1 Overview

Sample selection protocol:

  1. Stationary trips

  2. Complete checklists (report all species)

  3. Drop duplicates from group trips.

  4. Drop trips with 1 bird

  5. Duration between 5-240 mins

1.1 Full Sample

Summary Stats for 2020 in 1 month window around lockdown

1.2 Top 20 Cities

This is the subset of eBird observations meeting the pariticipation criteria in the top 20 Indian cities by population size. Note that not all top 20 cities may be present in eBird.

eBird Cities in Top 20 by Population Density
COUNTY STATE POP_DENSITY
North East Delhi Delhi 36155.226
Central Delhi Delhi 27729.524
East Delhi Delhi 27132.476
Chennai Tamil Nadu 26552.754
Kolkata West Bengal 24306.454
Mumbai Suburban Maharashtra 20979.735
Mumbai Maharashtra 19652.299
Hyderabad Telangana 18171.995
South Delhi Delhi 11060.441
Chandigarh Chandigarh 9258.333
South West Delhi Delhi 5446.456
Bangalore Karnataka 4381.398
New Delhi Delhi 4057.257
Puducherry Puducherry 3232.276

1.3 Pre-Post Lockdown Statistics

This table shows aggregate birdwatching activity in the full sample among users who birdwatched on at least 2 days before and after lockdown (March 24, 2020).

All Cities
PREPOST Num. Trips Num. Cities Num. Users Num. Species
Post-lockdown 13287 127 264 648
Pre-lockdown 2224 164 264 635
Top 20
PREPOST Num. Trips Num. Cities Num. Users Num. Species
Post-lockdown 2541 13 45 216
Pre-lockdown 382 14 45 177

1.4 Trip Statistics

This table shows trip-level statistics before and after lockdown.

All Cities
PREPOST Trip Length Mean Species Richness Median Species Richness
Post-lockdown 21.68616 12.20456 11
Pre-lockdown 25.67536 12.41862 10
Top 20
PREPOST Trip Length Mean Species Richness Median Species Richness
Post-lockdown 20.52027 12.35931 12
Pre-lockdown 22.89267 10.73822 9

1.5 Marginal Species by city

Marginal species are species observed after lockdown which were not observed before lockdown. To implement: in each city, obtain list of species observed (across all users) in March and April 2020. Extract species in april list not in march list, and collect in a data frame. If fewer species in april, city will not be in final list.

COMMON.NAME SCIENTIFIC.NAME COUNTY
Little/Indian Cormorant Microcarbo niger/Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Kolkata
small swift sp. Apodidae sp. (small swift sp.) Kolkata
white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp. Kolkata
swift sp. Apodidae sp. Kolkata
falcon sp. Falco sp. Kolkata
Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus Kolkata
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei Kolkata
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Kolkata
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Kolkata
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Kolkata
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Kolkata
Spotted Owlet Athene brama Kolkata
Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Kolkata
Gray-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus Kolkata
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Kolkata
Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri Kolkata
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Kolkata
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Bangalore
Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica Bangalore
Barn Owl Tyto alba Bangalore
Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Bangalore
ibis sp. Threskiornithidae sp. (ibis sp.) Bangalore
flowerpecker sp. Prionochilus/Dicaeum sp. Bangalore
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis Bangalore
bird sp. Aves sp. Bangalore
sunbird sp. Nectariniidae sp. (sunbird sp.) Bangalore
Dusky Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor Bangalore
Gray-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Bangalore
stork sp. Ciconiidae sp. Bangalore
swift sp. Apodidae sp. Bangalore
leafbird sp. Chloropsis sp. Bangalore
cormorant sp. Phalacrocoracidae sp. Bangalore
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Bangalore
Apus sp. Apus sp. Bangalore
Lonchura sp. Lonchura sp. Bangalore
Garganey Spatula querquedula Bangalore
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Bangalore
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Bangalore
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa Bangalore
White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus Bangalore
bee-eater sp. Merops sp. Bangalore
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Bangalore
prinia sp. Prinia sp. Bangalore
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Bangalore
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii Bangalore
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Bangalore
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura Bangalore
Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea Bangalore
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa Bangalore
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Mumbai
Little Swift Apus affinis Mumbai
Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica Mumbai
Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra Mumbai
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus Mumbai
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Mumbai
Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima Mumbai
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica Mumbai
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Mumbai
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus Mumbai
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Chennai
sunbird sp. Nectariniidae sp. (sunbird sp.) Chennai
Spotted Owlet Athene brama Chennai
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Chennai
heron sp. Ardeidae sp. Chennai
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Chennai
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Chennai
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Chennai
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Chennai
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Chennai
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Chennai
swift sp. Apodidae sp. Chennai
Little Swift Apus affinis Chennai
white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp. Chennai
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Chennai
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Chennai
passerine sp. Passeriformes sp. Chennai
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus Mumbai Suburban
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Mumbai Suburban
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Mumbai Suburban
Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo Mumbai Suburban
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile Mumbai Suburban
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Mumbai Suburban
Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus Chandigarh
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Chandigarh
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Chandigarh
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Chandigarh
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Chandigarh
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Chandigarh
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Chandigarh
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Chandigarh
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Chandigarh
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Chandigarh
Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris Chandigarh
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides South West Delhi
duck sp. Anatinae sp. South West Delhi
drongo sp. Dicrurus sp. South West Delhi
Little Swift Apus affinis South West Delhi
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa South West Delhi
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus South West Delhi
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita South West Delhi
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach South West Delhi
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus South West Delhi
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi South West Delhi
old world warbler sp. Passeriformes sp. (Old World warbler sp.) South West Delhi
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus South West Delhi
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops South West Delhi
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum South West Delhi
Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo South West Delhi
white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp. South West Delhi
Booted Warbler Iduna caligata South West Delhi
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus South West Delhi
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea South West Delhi
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii South West Delhi
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo South West Delhi
Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus South West Delhi
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus South West Delhi
Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca South West Delhi
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos South West Delhi
Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus North East Delhi
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus North East Delhi
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri North East Delhi
Large Gray Babbler Turdoides malcolmi North East Delhi
Rock Pigeon Columba livia North East Delhi
Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus North East Delhi
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria East Delhi
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus East Delhi
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros East Delhi
White Wagtail Motacilla alba East Delhi
Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei East Delhi
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos East Delhi
Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus East Delhi
Large Gray Babbler Turdoides malcolmi East Delhi
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus East Delhi
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus East Delhi
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus East Delhi
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata East Delhi
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis East Delhi
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda East Delhi
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus East Delhi
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis East Delhi
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus East Delhi
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa East Delhi
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis East Delhi
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus East Delhi
Shikra Accipiter badius East Delhi
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus East Delhi
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis East Delhi
Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata East Delhi
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis East Delhi
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus East Delhi
Gray-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii East Delhi
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea East Delhi
Little Egret Egretta garzetta East Delhi
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea East Delhi
Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha East Delhi
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus East Delhi
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva East Delhi
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei East Delhi
Little Swift Apus affinis East Delhi
passerine sp. Passeriformes sp. East Delhi
swift sp. Apodidae sp. East Delhi
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo East Delhi
Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo East Delhi
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii East Delhi
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus East Delhi
ibis sp. Threskiornithidae sp. (ibis sp.) East Delhi
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense East Delhi
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus South Delhi
Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca South Delhi
Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris South Delhi
crow sp. Corvus sp. (crow sp.) South Delhi
parakeet sp. Psittaciformes sp. (parakeet sp.) South Delhi
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus South Delhi
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus South Delhi
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense South Delhi
House Sparrow Passer domesticus South Delhi
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei South Delhi
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos South Delhi
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Puducherry
Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura Puducherry
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Puducherry
bird sp. Aves sp. Puducherry
Garganey Spatula querquedula Puducherry
Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo Puducherry
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura Puducherry
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Puducherry
white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp. Puducherry
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Puducherry
Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor Puducherry
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Puducherry
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Puducherry
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis Puducherry
Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum Puducherry
Black Kite Milvus migrans Puducherry
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Puducherry
swallow sp. Hirundinidae sp. Puducherry
tern sp. Sterninae sp. Puducherry
Tringa sp. Tringa sp. Puducherry
wagtail sp. Motacilla sp. Puducherry
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Puducherry
Gray-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus Puducherry
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Puducherry
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Puducherry
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Puducherry
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Puducherry
snipe sp. Gallinago sp. Puducherry
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Puducherry
duck sp. Anatinae sp. Puducherry
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus Puducherry
Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Puducherry
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Puducherry
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus Puducherry
Gray-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Puducherry
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Puducherry
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus Puducherry
Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca Puducherry
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Puducherry
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Puducherry
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster Puducherry
diurnal raptor sp. Accipitriformes/Falconiformes sp. Puducherry
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Puducherry
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata Puducherry
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Puducherry
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Puducherry
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus New Delhi
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto New Delhi
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus Hyderabad
Dusky Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor Hyderabad
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis Hyderabad
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Hyderabad
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Hyderabad
River Tern Sterna aurantia Hyderabad
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Hyderabad
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Hyderabad
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Hyderabad
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus Hyderabad
swallow sp. Hirundinidae sp. Hyderabad
Gray-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Hyderabad
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Hyderabad
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Hyderabad
parakeet sp. Psittaciformes sp. (parakeet sp.) Hyderabad
Streptopelia sp. Streptopelia sp. Hyderabad
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Hyderabad
diurnal raptor sp. Accipitriformes/Falconiformes sp. Hyderabad
white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp. Hyderabad
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii Hyderabad
Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris Hyderabad
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Hyderabad

2 Event Study - Regression Disconinuity

Each black point is the difference in species richness compared to the day of lockdown. Specifically, we compute the number of days from each trip until the day of lockdown (negative values are days until lockdown, positive values are days after lockdown). We regress species richness on dummies for time until lockdown with date, hour, and state fixed effects. We also control for duration of trip and number of trips per day for each user.

Notes:

  1. We see action around Janta curfew, not as much around official lockdown. Suggests people responded to the former.

  2. We start seeing increases in species diversity post-lockdown when we narrow in on urban environments

  3. Larger increases in post-lockdown species diversity as we increase the participation constraint (e.g. 10 days before/after curfew)

2.1 Species Distributions (Bangalore Only)

data: number of times each user sees each species in march and april. interpretation: proportion of user base seeing different frequencies of species.